Project Announcement: Direct Digital Manufacturing Initiative – Phase II

The US Department of Defense is partnering with industry and academia on a multiphase CTMA initiative to pursue the use of direct digital manufacturing (DDM)/Additive Manufacturing (AM) to improve the performance of turbine engines and to better meet the maintenance and sustainment requirements for current and future aircraft. It seeks an external partner to identify parts for the T700 engine that are well-suited to production via DDM/AM and that can be leveraged for future engine programs.

Phase I DDM effort was focused on the manufacturing process, specifically deciphering the additive manufacturing printing process and demonstrate learnings with the production of a T700 Swirl Frame. In Phase II, the project team will focus on technical process maturation with a concentration on capturing the benefits of fully digitizing the part qualification processes and sustainment field support aspects of additively manufactured parts, resulting in increased efficiency in production and sustainment for the Warfighter.

The top-level objectives of this Phase II effort include:

• Further development of the manufacturing digital twin of the T901 additive components
• Further development of the cross-platform digital thread needed for robust lifecycle management of these components.

If you feel your organization has the technical capabilities and would like to be considered for this project, please complete the form below and upload your organization’s technical capabilities statement.

Interested Submissions Due by 8/22/2023.

We encourage participation of Disadvantaged Business Enterprises (DBEs), including Minority Business Enterprises (MBEs) and Women’s Business Enterprises (WBEs).